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Original films like "Megalopolis" struggle to find their footing as studios chase sure bets

Oct 1, 2024
The Francis Ford Coppola passion project is the latest original film to flop at the box office.
Francis Ford Coppola self-funded the commercial flop "Megalopolis."
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

A former projectionist remembers his reel life

Aug 8, 2024
Projectionists wrangle miles of film for some movie screenings.
“Movies, in every single way, are a form of art,” says Austin Andrie-Grondek. “Even projecting it.”
Ignacio Sanchez Mello/AFP via Getty Images

Why are movie box office results reported in dollars, rather than tickets sold?

Jul 5, 2024
Knowing a movie’s gross is important for Hollywood dealmaking. The rest of us are just obsessed with records.
The highly popular "Inside Out 2," released this summer, has already made more than $1 billion worldwide. Traditionally, the press has measured a movie's success by how much it's earned at the box office, not by how many people saw the film.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney/Pixar

Hollywood is cracking down on piracy (again)

Jul 3, 2024
As pressure mounts on streaming services to make money, the industry is getting more aggressive about the global problem.
Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Motion Picture Association, making a presentation. The industry group is renewing its legislative efforts on Capitol Hill, says New York Times reporter Brooks Barnes.
David Becker/Getty Images for CinemaCon

MoviePass is coming back, but are moviegoers?

Feb 11, 2022
The company collapsed in 2019 but is now betting on a tiered subscription model and a return to indoor entertainment.
The subscription service MoviePass is trying to stage a comeback this summer.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

An independent movie theater eyes “momentum” heading into 2022

Nov 23, 2021
“It really is beginning to look — dare I say it — a little normal,” said the executive director of Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre.
“It finally feels like we might walk into 2022 and see some consistency,” said Stephanie Silverman, executive director of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville.
Photo by Tom Gatlin, courtesy Belcourt Theatre

Memorial Day could be a test for the movie theater industry

May 24, 2021
Movie theaters are reopening in time for summer blockbuster season. Are people ready to go back?
Studios are committing to releasing blockbusters in theaters again. Will it pay off?
Tom Copper/Getty Images

China's movie post-production companies feel the pinch

May 19, 2021
How one visual effects and animation firm that services Hollywood and China productions is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dachang Movie Town near Beijing is where reality shows and feature films are shot.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace